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Approximately 10 percent of American TV patrons have canceled cable TV to reduce household costs, and statistics show the number of people cutting the cable cord doubles every year. If you are tired of surfing through hundreds of channels and paying high subscription fees, examine your current TV usage, buy a streaming device and opt for media streaming from your TV or computer.

Steps

Part 1

Evaluating Your Preferences

1

Make a list of the shows that you watch regularly. Do this for each family member, so that you can predict what you will put on T.V.

2

Check if your favorite shows are available online. Go to findinternettv.com to see a list of popular shows usually shown on cable channels.

Many channels are choosing to stream new episodes of popular shows on their website.

Also, check Netflix, Hulu, iTunes and Amazon Video On Demand to see what shows are available using these services. Most shows on HBO, Showtime, AMC and similar channels are available for purchase by episode or the season on iTunes and Amazon.

It is estimated that 90 percent of shows on ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox are available online.

3

Decide if you are willing to wait for shows that are currently not available online.

In most cases, this requires waiting approximately 6 months to 1 year to stream a full season of your show from Netflix for no extra charge.

Some shows (often some of the more popular series) do not grant streaming rights to Netflix. In this case, you’ll need to buy or rent the shows from Amazon, iTunes or another service.

For movies, you can rent new movies on gaming consoles, Amazon and iTunes, if they are not available with your Netflix subscription.

4

Research your Internet cost. Cable subscribers frequently bundle their Internet and cable service together. Call your cable provider to inquire about how much the Internet will cost without bundling, and research what other internet providers there are in your area.

In some cases, you may not save money by cutting the cord. You may want to price out how many services you will need to subscribe to and compare the cost of cable minus the cost of Internet service.

Part 2

Choosing a Device

1

Get an antenna. If any of the shows you listed were local news channels or major series on major networks like ABC or NBC, the first step is to connect an indoor or outdoor antenna.

Antennae are available for $20 to $60 online or in box stores.

You may want to consider a small indoor antenna, like the Mohu Leaf, which is smaller and less imposing than other models.

Antennae usually pick up channels that are broadcast from 35 miles (56 km) away or less. Availability and picture quality will depend upon your location.

This is essential for fans of local news or sports broadcasts.

2

Get an Internet TV. Before buying any new device, check to see if your TV is set up to receive Internet streaming from its main interface.

If you have an Internet TV, you can stream movies and television shows through Netflix and Hulu Plus, although it will not extend to other televisions or specialty channels.

If you are in the market for a new TV, you may as well purchase an Internet TV, to access movies and TV through these services.

3

Buy a Roku. If you have a high quality wireless network, then the Roku streaming device is the cheapest and easiest option to set up streaming from regular TVs.

Roku devices are between $50 and $100. The price depends upon the processing speed you require.

Get a Roku if you want to stream sports. Apple TV and Roku are the first devices to support sports and movie streaming when new services are released.

If you have more than 1 television in your home, you can buy a Roku for each set. The single purchase price of the Roku often equals one month’s cable bill or less.

Roku are best for homes that don’t want to do any streaming on the computer or other devices. Older viewers find the Roku requires little set up, as well as a low learning curve.

If you simply want to use Netflix and Hulu Plus for network shows, seasons of cable TV shows and movies, then this is the cheapest option with easy set up.

A similar device to the Roku is the WD TV Play, created by Western Digital. The price is approximately $70 and supports Netflix and Hulu Plus.

4

Buy an Apple TV, if you already own several Apple devices.

Apple TV runs around $100.

Although the Apple TV connects to your TV in a similar way to the Roku, it works with your Apple ID to help you stream content on all your Apple devices.

If you own an iPad, iPod or have an Apple computer, the Apple TV is the best choice.

5

Buy a Google Chromecast digital media streamer. If you are used to streaming content on your computer, then you can simply push the online content to your TV.

Google’s Chromecast costs only $35, making it the cheapest option on the market.

It plugs directly into your HDTV via the HDMI port. Once you connect wireless Internet to the device, you can stream online content to your TV.

Unlike the Roku and Apple TV that use “channels” to stream Hulu, Netflix and other services through the interface, the Chromecast simply uses your computer as a controller.

It may be the best solution for teenagers or students who already access TV and movies using their computer.

The Chromecast has advantages for sports fans as well. You can stream games after you subscribe to a website-based streaming service.

6

Enable streaming on your gaming consoles. If you or your family member own an Xbox, PlayStation or Wii, then you can use the device to stream basic TV and movies.

Gaming consoles cost between $200 and $400. It is only a smart buy if you are considering purchasing the console anyway.

If you have a current model, you can access TV streaming through the interface.

Ask your gamer to download TV and movie “channels” from the device’s store. Then, you can connect the icon to your current account.

The PlayStation 3 is the best gaming console for sports fans that want to pay to access NHL, NBA or MLB games.

7

Invest in a streaming-enabled DVD player or video player.

DVD and Blu Ray players run from $80 to $200.

These devices can easily stream Netflix, Amazon Video On Demand and Hulu.

They offer a limited selection of other channels.

8

Buy an Amazon Fire TV.

Yeah, it is new, but you can still watch Netflix, Hulu, etc. and play loads of apps and games from their app store.

A Fire TV runs about $99, but the new Fire TV Stick, a Chromecast-reminiscent HDMI dongle with the same functionality of a Fire TV, costs only $39.

Part 3

Choosing TV Services

1

Subscribe to Hulu Plus. Sign up for a one week free trial after you have purchased your device and before you officially cut off cable.

Article Info

wikiHow is a wiki similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are written collaboratively. To create this article, 22 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. Together, they cited 9 references. This article has also been viewed 593,681 times.